The bill: requires the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to identify and contact a person’s next of kin when that person is in a foreign country and believed to be missing; provides for the department and its agencies to offer assistance in such circumstances; and requires the minister to report annually on the development and implementation of international agreements relating to Australian citizens believed to be missing overseas.

to enable the Treasurer to determine that the Financial Claims Scheme no longer apply to a bank which either withholds an interest rate cut or increases its variable standard rate in response to an official interest rate reduction.

to require the Australian Broadcasting Authority to impose licence conditions on commercial television licensees in metropolitan areas, obliging them to provide locally-produced news, current affairs and other programming.